Duval Audubon Society Inc.

Contact: Pete Johnson (904-536-4806)
427 Aquarius Concourse, Orange Park FL

Duval Audubon Society's Crosby Sanctuary conservation property is over 500 acres of swamp and oak hammock located in the heart of Clay County. Over 140 species of birds have been recorded on the eBird list at this park (https://ebird.org/hotspot/L489156).

Duval Audubon resumes our monthly guided nature walks through the sanctuary from 8:00 am to 9:30 am on the third Saturday of every month (excluding the months of June, July, August, and December). Please wear close-toed shoes or boots (for your safety, no sandals or flip-flops, please), and bring water, sunscreen, bug spray, and a hat if desired.

For those who are willing and able, after the nature walk there is a work day until 12 pm to help maintain the preserve and keep it free of invasive plants and trash. If you are staying for the work day, please also bring work gloves, loppers, scissor-style hedge clippers, or any other trail maintenance type tools if you have them.

Masks are not mandatory per the new CDC guidelines, but for the safety of all participants and volunteers, social distancing will be required during the entire event (both the nature walk and the work day). Please, no sharing of binoculars or scopes.

Camp Blanding WMA is 56,197 acres located in western Clay County, east of Starke. The northern half of the area is planted pine plantations with remnant mature pines that support red-cockaded woodpeckers. Bottomland hardwood forests occur along the headwaters of Black Creek. The southern half of the area includes several thousand acres of sandhills, with plentiful white-tailed deer and turkey.

Our main purpose for this trip is to visit a cluster site and learn about the life of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Other birds we will look for: Red-headed Woodpecker, Kestrel, Sandhill Cranes, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Northern Bobwhite quail.

Visiting the Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers is usually 2-3 hours. We will then proceed to travel across to Camp Blanding where we will visit the many lakes and learn about the water systems of Camp Blanding and look for waterfowl. This optional activity usually wraps up around 1-2 pm.

We are meeting at the intersection of Barker Rd and US-16 at 8:00 am, across the street from the main entrance of Camp Blanding Joint Training Center. PLEASE DON'T BE LATE, the gates will be locked after entry. Once we sign in and drive into the WMA, there will not be another restroom.

DO NOT GO TO THE CAMP BLANDING MAIN ENTRANCE! FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS BELOW TO OUR MEETING SPOT:

Coming from Jacksonville:
Take Blanding Blvd (SR21) south through Orange Park, and Middleburg. Continue south on SR 21 until you get to the intersection of SR 16 and SR 21. Turn Right (Heading west). Go approximately 4 miles to Barker Road (north side of road, just east of the main gate of Camp Blanding). We will meet there, then figure out riding options.

Coming from Starke:
Take SR 16 east from Starke. Continue East until you reach Camp Blanding past the junction of CR230 and CR 225 (From Lawtey). Pass the Sunoco Gas station on the right. Go approximately 1 mile, turn LEFT onto Barker Road (FWC - Camp Blanding WMA sign - Green in color). There is a gate there, it will be open for the group.

From Keystone Heights:
Take CR 21 (Blanding Blvd) NORTH until you hit SR 16 and SR 21. Turn LEFT, Go approximately 4 miles to Barker Road (north side of road -- on the right as you are going west on SR 16). This will be just east of the main gate of Camp Blanding.

There is no fee, but everyone will need proper picture ID – e.g. driver’s license to get into Camp Blanding. Bring your binoculars, insect repellent, sunscreen, snacks and plenty of water. Please plan to carpool or join the carpool at Camp Blanding.

Speaker: Pete Johnson, President, Duval Audubon